Combination key



Feb. 16 1925. 1,573,791

' E. ROETHLISBERGER COMBINATION KEY Filed April 301 1923 vwemtoz EM/L ROETHL/SBERGER Patented Feb. 1% lddfi non 'rnmtaanaana 5W HEW rown, bl.

continual-mien mt.

Application filed awn so, serial no. eat tie.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Earn. Ro'nrntrsnnnsnn,

a citizen of the United Statesancl residing I at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Keys, of which the following is a-specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it app'ertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to keys for use in connection with locks of various kinds and classes and particularly to tumbler locks, and the object of the invention is to provide an improved combination key device for locks of the class specified, said key device being composed of two parts adapted to interlock one with the other, one of said parts constituting a plug key which is adapted to be inserted into a lock to render the lock inoperative, and the other part of the key device constituting the key proper for manipulating or opening the lock, saidlast named part cooperating with the first named plug part in the operation of opening the lock; and with this and other objects in view 1 the invention consists in a combination ke device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, eiticient in use and which is constructed as herein-' after described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accom panying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view 7 through a tumbler lock illustrating; one part cylinder-of a lock, the ends of said tumblers cooperating with balls 7 in the usual manner.

At 8 I have. shown a part of the lock spindle which controls the latch and lock bolts of the lock and 9 represents the key aperture into which my improved key device 19 which the lock is mounted, the part 12 of the lock constitutes a plug part and is substantially l..-shaped,in form or comprises a shank portion 14L and leg portion 15. The upper face of the shank 14- is provided with a plurality of spaced projecting members 16 adapted to cooperate with corresponding recesses 17 formed in the bottom face of the part 11 for interlocking the separate parts 11 and 12 together, and it will be understood that when the parts 11 and 12 are toether they will resemble the usual unitary ev.

Both of the parts 11 and 12 are provided on one side face thereof with a groove 18 which extends longitudinally therethrough, andon the other side face thereof with another groove 19 shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing,- and these grooves form a" key of predetermined form in cross section which is adapted to enter a predetermined key aperture 9 in the lock, and it will be understood that these grooves or the cross sectional form of the key device as a whole may be varied as is the custom with the usual unitary key construction.

It will also be noted that the top and bottom edges or faces o'f'the key device when the parts 11 and 12 are together and interlock are in common alinement. and the part 11 is provided with a substantially circular head 20 constituting a finger piece which will facilitate the manipulation of the key part 11 in the operation of opening the lock.

In the use of my improved key device the part 12 thereof, or the plug part may be inis adapted to be inserted as hereinafter set sorted into the key aperture 9, and this art will be retained against accidental (lisp agement by the leg 15 which cooperates with the tumbler 6, and in order to open the look a key part similar to the part 11 must be at hand to accomplish the desired result, and in the operation of opening the lock or operating the same the part 11 is inserted into the key aperture 9, and when in its 1n- "nermost position said part will interlock with the part 12, and the part 11 may then be rotated in the usual manner to open the plug part is within the aperture, and on the lock or to revolve the spindle 8 to manipulate the latch or look bolts of the lock in the usual manner. In the above operation it will be understood that the part 11 of the key device must be the mate to the part 12, or must have recesses or projections interlooking with the projections or recesses in the part 12 and must also be provided with the required recesses or projections ,13 pn the upper edge or face thereof, otherwise and actuating the mechanisms thereof to open thesame cannot be employed or used without removing the plug part 12, if said other hand if said plugiswithin the aperture 9 the specific or cooperative key part 11 must be used, that is to say, a part 11 whichwill, interlock-with the part 12 and also be provided with the required key ooves to actuate the-lock mechanism, and

= in this way a double assurance of safety is effected, especially to check the use of-a skeleton key, it being understood that many combinations between the interlocking of the Separate parts 11 and 12 may be employed as well as the usual key combination, but with my improved key construction the possible combinations are multiplied many times over the present type ofkeys.

My improved key device will work to a eat advantage in connection with the ocks, particularly the entrance doors to homes, apartments, compartments or the I like, and also to looks of the class under consideration employed in motor vehicles and various other and unlimited uses, and in every instance the plug part 12 of the key device may be kept within the key aperture of the lock at all times, if desired, but may be removed at will for any purpose. One of the distinctive features of my presentinwe tion rests in the fact that it is only necessary for the proper party who is to have possession of the key part 11 to carry but a single key or unit as is the usual custom and it is not necessary to be in possession of the part 12 unless there should be specialreason for so doing, and ,it will also be un-, derstood that any number of the key parts 11 may be employed and used in connection with a single plug key part 12.

While I have shown and described my in vention as applied to a lock of specific construction and have shown and described a specific form of lock, it will be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited .in these respects, and various changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or .sacrificin its advantages.

Having fhlly described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combination key for tumbler locks, said key' being composed of separate interlocking and cooperative parts positioned one above the other and edge to edge, and one of said parts constituting a key part for actuating the tumblers of the lock.-

2. A combination key for tumbler locks, said key being composed of separate interlocking and cooperative parts, one of said parts constituting a' key part for actuating the tumblers of the lock, and the other of said parts being substantially L-shaped in form and being adapted to be inserted, into the key aperture of the lock and tocooperate with the tumblers thereof to prevent the withdrawal of saidpart.

3. A combination key fortumbler locks, said key being composed of separateinterlocking and :cooperative parts, one of said parts constituting a key part for actuating the tumblers of the lock, and the other of said parts being substantially L-shaped in form and being adapted to be inserted into the key-aperture of the lock and to cooperate with the tumblers thereof to prevent the withdrawal of said part, and said first named part being adapted to withdraw said last named part of the key from the lock.

4. A combination keyfor tumbler locks,

said key being composed of separate interlocking and cooperative parts, one of said parts constituting a key part for actuating the tumblers of the lock, the other of said parts' being substantially L-shaped in form and being adapted to be inserted into the key aperture of the lock and to cooperate with the tumblers thereof to prevent the withdrawal of said part, said first named part being adapted to withdraw said last named part of the key from the lock, and

said first named part being provided with a finger piece.

5. A combination key for tumbler locks, said key being composed of separate interlocking and cooperative parts, one of said parts constituting a key part for actuating the tumblers of the lock, the other of said and being adapted to be inserted into the key aperture of the lock and to cooperate with the tumblers thereof to prevent the withdrawal of said part, said first named part being adapted to withdraw said last parts being substantially L-shaped in form 3 named part of the key from the lock, said first n'amed part being provided with a finger piece, and the cross section of both of the parts of the lock corresponding with the contour of the key aperture of the lock.

6. A combination key of the class described for use in connection with tumbler locks, said key comprising a key part and a plug part, said key part being fastened to cooperate with the tumblers of the lock to permit of the opening of said lock, and said plug part being adapted to be-placed in the key aperture of the lock and provided with means cooperating with the tumblers of the lock to normally prevent the withdrawal thereof. 7."A combination key of the class described for. use in connection with tumbler locks, said key comprising a key part and a plug part, said key part being fashioned to cooperate with the tumblers of the lock to permit of the opening of said lock, said plug part. being adapted to'be placed in the key aperture of the lock and provided with means cooperating with the tumblers of the vlock to normally prevent the withdrawal thereof, and means for interlocking the separate parts of the key.

8. A combination key of the class described composed of separate parts-adapted when placed one upon another and edge to edge to form a complete key both parts of which are insertable into the lock, cooperative means for interlocking said key parts, and oneof said key parts being fashioned to actuate the mechanisms of a lock.

9. A combination key of the class described composed of separate parts adapted when placed together to form a. complete ,key, cooperative means for interlocking said key parts, one of said key parts being fashioned 'to actuate the mechanisms-of a lock, and said part being provided with a finger iece. p 10. A combination key of the class described composed of separate parts adapted when placed together to form a complete key, cooperative means for interlocking said key parts, one of said key parts being fashioned to actuate the mechanisms of a lock, said part being providedvwith a finger piece, and the other of said parts being substantially L-shaped in form.

11. A key of the class described the shank of which is fashioned to actuate the mechanisms of a lock and other means on said shank and positioned in common alinement with-the plane of said shank for controlling the use of said key in a predetermined lock, said last named means being entirely insertable into a lock. 7

12. A combination key of the class described, said key being composed of separate interlocking parts, one of which is adapted to be inserted into the usual key, aperture of a lock and retained against displacement therefrom and the other of said parts constituting the key proper and adapted to be inserted into said key aperture above the first named art and adapted to manipulate the mechanisms of a predetermined lock.

13. A combination key of the class de scribed, said key being composed of separate interlocking parts, one of which is adapted to be inserted into the usual key aperture .of'a lock and retained against displacement therefrom and the other of said parts constituting the key proper and adapted to be inserted into said key aperture above the first named part and adapted to manipulate the mechanisms of a predetermined lock and means for interlocking the separate parts of the key.

14. A combination key of the class described, said key being composed of separate interlocking and cooperative parts, positioned one above another to form, when assembled, a unitary key for actuating a predetermined lock, and one of said parts being provided with a finger portion and constituting a key proper and the other of said parts constituting a plug key adapted to be inserted into the key aperture of a lock and retained against displacement therefrom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 27th day of April 1923. v

EMIL ROETHLISBERGER. 

